Mazza Museum Partners With Toledo Zoo

The newly-renovated ProMedica Museum of Natural History at the Toledo Zoo—which opened on May 31—includes a second-floor exhibit featuring original artwork on loan from the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum. The gallery’s first exhibit is titled “Lines, Tigers and Bears: An Illustrated Zoo” and includes approximately 40 pieces, some of which were created by Lizzy Rockwell, author of the children’s book “Zoo Day.” The plan for the Zoo’s gallery is to rotate displays several times a year as well as to bring in illustrators for presentations. The animal-themed artwork, selected from the Mazza Museum’s vast picture book collection, considered the world’s largest, will focus on conservation, endangered species, and increasing public awareness, said Dan Chudzinski, Mazza Museum curator. The Museum of Natural History renovation is part of a $27-million zoo master plan, and involved updating space in the former Museum of Science, a Works Progress Administration-era building that is more than 80 years old.